Chapter 31

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

brENDON

When Artie and I get home, I'm surprised to find the apartment empty.

"Where's Carter?" Artie asks, clearly just as confused as I am.

"Not a fucking clue," I murmur, pulling my phone out to see if he sent me a text that I somehow missed.

The last message he sent me was that he was getting pizzas and there would be leftovers when Artie and I got home. With quick steps I head to the fridge and frown when I don't find any pizzas. If there was a change of plans Carter would have told me, which makes me think maybe something else happened.

"We need to go for a drive," I tell Artie, who nods and follows me back to my car.

Once I'm behind the wheel, I pull up Carter's location and see that he's still at the pizza joint.

"Do you think someone slashed his tires again?" Artie asks as I speed down the streets.

I fucking hope that's all that's happened, but my gut is telling me something more sinister might have taken place. Carter would have told me something like that. The fact that he hasn't sent me any messages at all has me more than a little worried.

When we pull into the parking lot, I see Carter's car out front and park beside it, but my man isn't anywhere in sight.

Quickly I get out of the car and start to look around. The car is locked, but Carter's phone is on the passenger seat, which isn't like him. He always keeps it in his pocket.

My heart races as I stride toward the pizza joint and rush inside.

"Oh, hi, Brendon. Did Carter not pick up enough pizza?" Mary, the owner, asks.

And I shake my head. "So, he was here?" I check, and she nods.

"Yes, several hours ago. He picked up three large pizzas for you guys," she tells me, and I grab the back of my neck, trying to think what the hell happened and where he could possibly be.

"He didn't come home, and his car is still in the parking lot," I inform Mary, who gasps. "Did you see anyone else around when he picked up the pizzas?"

Mary shakes her head while frowning. "No, but I was pretty busy around then. A bunch of orders came in, and I was in the back making them up if there wasn't someone at the counter. So, there could have been someone outside that I just didn't notice. I can pull up my cameras, though, and see if they show anything," she suggests. "We actually just got them fixed a couple of days ago. They've been down for a while now, but this makes me extra thankful that my nephew was finally able to come down and help me out."

"That would be amazing. While you do that, I'm going to call the police."

"Absolutely, dear. Once you are off the phone with them, come right back to my office," she states before rushing away.

"What are you thinking happened?" Artie asks, and I shake my head.

"I have no idea, but I don't think it's anything good," I murmur while pulling my phone out.

Before I call the police I send Sasha a text, giving him a heads up about the situation and he immediately replies telling me he's on his way.

"Detective Leroy speaking," the officer who is running our case answers after I dial his number.

"Hi, it's Brendon. I'm at Deep Dish Delight, and I think Carter might have been kidnapped," I inform him, my hand shaking as I hold my phone to my ear.

"What makes you think that?" he asks, sounding so fucking calm when I feel anything but.

"The owner told us he picked up pizzas a few hours ago, but his car and cell phone are still here. She is pulling up the security footage for us now, but I know something happened. Carter isn't one to leave his phone behind, like ever, and where would he have taken the pizzas if he didn't get in his car?"

Detective Leroy hums in response before telling me he'll be here in a few minutes.

"Come on, let's see if Mary found anything," I tell Artie once I'm off the phone.

Even though I'm freaking out on the inside, I know I have to stay in control right now. Carter needs me, and letting my worry take over isn't going to help him.

"Come here," Mary waves us over when we enter her office. "Do you guys recognize this man?" she asks, hitting play.

The video shows Carter coming out of the store and bumping into someone. At first we can't see the face of the other person but eventually as they talk he turns, and I gasp when I realize who it is.

"That's Matais," I whisper, covering my mouth in disbelief.

As the video continues to play, he grabs one of the boxes of pizza and follows behind Carter until they are out of range of the camera.

"Do you have another angle?" I check, and she nods.

"My nephew installed another one the other day as well," she tells me, switching feeds.

We watch as Matais follows Carter to his car, and we all gasp when Matais injects something into Carter's neck, and my man goes limp, the pizza boxes falling to the ground.

Matais catches Carter and drags him to a car that is parked close by. With the way that the car is parked, they disappear from view around the back, and I can't tell what he's doing to Carter. About three minutes later, he appears again, cleans up the pizza, and locks Carter's phone in his car. After that, he gets in his car and drives off, making my blood run cold.

"I am so sorry this happened," Mary whispers, tears streaming down her face.

Gently I place my hand on her shoulder and give it a comforting squeeze. "This isn't your fault, and this footage gives us a lot to go off of," I tell her.

She nods. "I guess you're right. Do you think that person is going to hurt Carter?" she asks.

I shake my head. "I don't exactly know," I reply.

"Well, I'll keep you all in my thoughts, and if there is anything I can do, please let me know. Carter is a good kid, and so are the two of you," she tells us. I thank her before walking to the front of the store with Artie by my side.

"Don't give up hope, man," he encourages me as we step outside.

"I'm not," I assure him. "But we have no idea what Matais is capable of. It seems he wants me for himself, and I'm pretty sure he'll do anything to make that happen."